Sports
Maple Leafs hope to halt skid at six as they visit Canucks
Jan 29, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs, from left, defenseman Morgan Rielly (44), forward Auston Matthews (34), forward Max Domi (11) and forward John Tavares (91) celebrate a goal during the third period at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images The free-falling Toronto Maple Leafs will hope to reverse their fortunes when they visit the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.
The Maple Leafs’ road trip got off to a bumpy start on Thursday night with a loss to the Seattle Kraken. Shane Wright quashed any hope of a late comeback, netting his second of the game in the third period to extend Seattle’s lead two-and-a-half minutes after Morgan Rielly had brought the score to within one. Jared McCann added an empty netter to complete the 5-2 rout in what was the Leafs’ sixth consecutive loss.
“Right now, it feels like when we make mistakes, you know, the other team’s capitalizing,” Rielly said after the game. “I mean, that’s why when you look at the score lately, it’s obviously not going our way. We have to limit chances against, goals against, and that starts by kind of limiting mistakes.”
The result threw another wrench into the Leafs’ dwindling playoff hopes, leaving them at the bottom of the Atlantic Division. Goaltender Anthony Stolarz tried to stay optimistic even as he struggled in his second game back from a two-month-long, injury-induced hiatus, allowing four goals on 21 shots.
“I definitely felt a lot better than I did in the first game, I thought my movements were crisper,” Stolarz said. “Obviously, the third one I want back, but for me it’s a step in the right direction and another building block.”
His tandem partner Joseph Woll will almost certainly slot into his place on Saturday night. The Leafs will hope to have their leading points scorer back in the lineup, William Nylander, who has missed the last seven games with a groin injury.
The rebuilding Vancouver Canucks, meanwhile, remain stranded at the bottom of the league even as they interrupted their own three-game losing skid with a 2-0 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.
Even though he stopped all 32 shots he faced, goaltender Nikita Tolopilo was denied his first official NHL shutout, having left the game for 2:11 of the first period for concussion protocol, during which Kevin Lankinen made a single save.
“The win is more important,” Tolopilo said after the game. “I’m happy that we got the win.”
Vancouver’s lineup has been further encumbered by a wave of injuries sustained over the last three games. In addition to Thatcher Demko and Marco Rossi’s lengthy injuries, the absence of Brock Boeser, Zeev Buium and Nils Hoglander has forced youngsters and depth players all the way up the lineup. 22-year-old winger Liam Ohgren, for one, has been forced into an unfamiliar penalty killing role.
“You know, we can’t keep using the same guys going forward,” head coach Adam Foote said. “We got to teach these young guys how to do it.”
The Canucks have won three of their last four against the Maple Leafs, though Toronto drubbed them 5-0 in their most recent encounter earlier this month. Vancouver has lost 14 of their last 16 games since Dec. 30.
-Field Level Media
Sports
Red Bulls' struggling defense clashes with woeful D.C. offense
Apr 4, 2026; Harrison, New Jersey, USA; Red Bull New York forward Emil Forsberg (10) tries to gain control of the ball against FC Cincinnati during the second half at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls are struggling at the opposite ends of the pitch.
Over their last four MLS matches, D.C. United have failed to score. Meanwhile, over the Red Bulls’ last four league games, they have surrendered 14 goals.
When the teams meet Wednesday night in Harrison, N.J., they will be seeking answers for their recent woes.
The lack of scoring punch is nothing new for D.C. United (2-4-2, 8 points). Last year, the club scored 30 goals, the fewest in MLS. D.C. also failed to score in four straight league matches from May 10-24, 2025.
It’s been a challenge for the Black and Red to remain positive. In addition to going 0-2-2 during their scoreless MLS run, they fell last week on penalty kicks to One Knoxville SC in a U.S. Open Cup match in which they put up three goals.
“I think we’ve shown we can create. I think it’s just about being very precise in some moments on both sides of the ball,” said D.C. goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who had four saves in a scoreless draw Saturday at the Philadelphia Union.
The offensive struggles of D.C. were evident as it took just six shots against Philadelphia, none of which were on frame. Coach Rene Weiler said he expects a similar challenge against New York (3-3-2, 11 points).
“You have to find ways to score goals,” Weiler said. “First of all, you have to accept the fight and the physical game because most of the teams on our side of the league are very physical.”
The Red Bulls look to rebound from a dispiriting 4-1 loss Saturday at CF Montreal in which their lone tally was an own goal.
Lowly CF Montreal has just two wins this season, both against the Red Bulls, who they have outscored 7-1.
Julian Hall (five goals, two assists) and Emil Forsberg (one goal, two assists) provide firepower for New York, which hopes to rediscover its defense against its longtime MLS rival.
“Games against D.C. United always carry extra weight,” Red Bulls manager Michael Bradley said. “We’re gonna step on the field at home on Wednesday night ready to give everything we have to respond in a really strong way.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves put closer Raisel Iglesias on IL, Robert Suarez to close
Apr 15, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Raisel Iglesias (26) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning at Truist Park. All players are wearing number 42 today in honor of Jackie Robinson. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images The Atlanta Braves placed closer Raisel Iglesias on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with discomfort in his right (throwing) shoulder.
Iglesias has said he’s felt the discomfort since sleeping on his shoulder wrong Friday night. But the Braves conducted an MRI that found no structural damage.
“There’s some inflammation there,” Braves manager Walt Weiss told reporters. “We feel like we’re getting out in front of this thing a little bit.”
Iglesias, 36, has amassed a 42-55 record, 258 saves and a 2.86 ERA in his 12 major league seasons, including four-plus years in Atlanta. He was off to a perfect start to the season, with five saves and no runs allowed over eight games (8 2/3 innings). He’s tossed 11 strikeouts to only one walk.
While Iglesias is sidelined, Robert Suarez will take over closing duties. Suarez led the National League with 40 saves while serving as the San Diego Padres’ closer last season; then he signed a three-year, $45 million deal to join the Braves and their bullpen.
The right-handed Suarez has gone 2-0 with one save and an 0.93 ERA for Atlanta in 10 appearances, used mostly as a setup man. He was an All-Star in 2024 and 2025 for the Padres.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Orlando City want attack to catch up to defense vs. Charlotte
Mar 14, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City midfielder Martin Ojeda (10) shoots on goal during the second half against the CF Montreal at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images Orlando City will be hoping for a much-needed attacking breakthrough on Wednesday night when they host a Charlotte FC side in search of a second consecutive away victory.
Orlando (1-6-1, 4 points) has been one of Major League Soccer’s most disappointing teams this season, costing former manager Oscar Pareja his job last month.
But there is some evidence that maybe the Lions have at least righted the ship defensively. After conceding 23 times in their first six games, interim manager Martin Perelman’s group has allowed only two goals in the last three fixtures across all competitions.
“I think we organize the team. It never is enough, always (important) to improve things,” Perelman said. “We are in that part. Last details. But yes, the structure is there. In the offensive side as well, we are working. Hopefully we can get the shape we want, that we are used to. Because in this club we have been scoring a lot for the last two years.”
So far, though, the attacking end remains pretty dire. After Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic combined for 28 MLS goals a season ago, they only have two apiece for a team with six goals total.
Pasalic also missed last week’s 1-0 home loss to Houston on Saturday night with a leg injury.
Charlotte (4-2-2, 14 points) makes the journey south following a 2-1 victory at New York City FC on Saturday, one that came despite holding a season-low 36% possession.
Defender Tim Ream exited that match at halftime and will miss roughly a week with an adductor strain, Charlotte manager Dean Smith said.
Idan Toklomati scored early in the second half and Kerwin Vargas added a goal late before NYCFC pulled one back in second-half stoppage time. And Charlotte created a similar number of chances to NYCFC despite having less of the ball.
Smith hopes the performance sets the tone for upcoming travels, with Charlotte to play its next three league games away after five of its first eight came at home.
“There’s not plenty of away games we’ve played so far, such is the fixture list,” Smith said. “We didn’t start on the road well, but we showed loads of characteristics that I liked on Saturday. And we need to continue to do that in the next three away games as well.”
–Field Level Media
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Red Bulls' struggling defense clashes with woeful D.C. offense
